Flexi-wage for self-employment

You may be able to get Flexi-wage for self-employment if you're:

• on a main benefit, eg:
  • Jobseeker Support
  • Sole Parent Support
  • Supported Living Payment
• either:
  
  • starting up a new business, or
  • needing help to become self-sufficient in an existing business.

We'll also take into account your work situation and how hard it is for you to find a job.

Who can't get it

You won't be able to get Flexi-wage for self-employment if you're:

• re-starting a business that you've owned before
• currently bankrupt.

How much you get, and how long you get it for, depends on your:

• weekly living expenses
• needs
• skills
• expected cash flow of the business.

If you want to enquire about your self-employment needs, email Flexiwage@msd.govt.nz and tell us your:

• name
• postcode
• phone number
• client number (if you have one).

We'll aim to contact you within 5 working days.

We'll talk with you about your business, your needs and what type of help we may be able to offer. If you have a business plan, you'll need to share this with us.

When we talk with you, we'll:

• ask you about your business
• talk with you about:
  • how to create a business plan, if you don't already have one
  • a Business Training and Advice Grant and how this may be able to help.

We then send your business plan away to get independently assessed to make sure that it's viable.

We'll let you know the outcome, and if it's approved we'll send you a contract.

To get Flexi-wage underway, you'll need to complete the contract and email it back to us along with evidence of your bank account number.

You'll be paid once the contract has been processed.

We'll:

• contact you regularly to see how things are going
• send you claim forms for the period of the contract.

We'll make sure you know how to claim the Flexi-wage each month.

Mid-project financial report

You'll also need to provide a mid-project financial report within the first 3-5 months. The report needs to outline things like:

• productivity levels, eg the amount of work or items manufactured
• actual cash flow
• a comparison of performance against the original business plan
• cash flow expectations for at least the next 6 months.

We'll:

• let you know when we need this and who to send it to
• send the report to an independent vetting agent
• review the subsidy rate and duration
• let you know the outcome.